Method and device for processing printed products

ABSTRACT

In a method and device for processing printed products, wherein at least one conveyor belt ( 1, 4, 5 ) is provided to supply partly overlapping printed products ( 11 ) in a tiled arrangement, at least one stop ( 6 ) which is movable in the conveying direction of the printed products ( 11 ) for collecting and organizing into one stack ( 12 ) each the printed products ( 11 ) supplied in a tiled arrangement, during the conveying movement of the printed products ( 11 ), and a consecutively arranged cutting device ( 9, 10 ) for cutting or trimming at least one edge of the stack ( 12 ) of printed products ( 11 ) along an edge extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction are provided, thus enabling the simple and reliable stacking and cutting or trimming by simple means. (FIG.  1 )

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for processing printed products which are supplied on a conveyor belt in a tiled, partly overlapping arrangement, wherein at least one edge of the printed products is trimmed or cut along an edge being essentially parallel to the conveying direction, as well as a device for processing printed products, wherein a conveying device and, in particular, at least one conveyor belt to supply printed products in a tiled, partly overlapping arrangement and at least a consecutively arranged cutting device for cutting at lest one edge of printed products along an edge being parallel to the conveying direction are provided.

PRIOR ART

Thinner printed products are, as a rule, conveyed and cut in tiled form as may be taken, for instance, from DE-A 100 45 062, wherefrom a method and a device of the kind mentioned-above can be taken. In that case, slight tearing of the edges of the lowermost pages in the region of the overlapping edges is taken into account. Known configurations preventing such tearing while achieving similar productivities are operated with cutting cylinders, which constitute extremely complex installations. There, the products are held in cylinders either individually or optionally in small stacks while passing stationary cutting edges. Up to three product pages can be cut.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a method and a device for processing printed products of the initially defined kind, which enable, by simple means and a simple process control, the proper cutting of printed products supplied on a conveyor belt in a tiled or partly overlapping arrangement.

To solve these objects, a method of the initially defined kind substantially comprises the steps of:

-   -   collecting and organizing into stacks the printed products         supplied in a tiled arrangement, during the conveying movement         of said printed products; and     -   trimming or cutting at least one edge of the stack of printed         products along an edge extending substantially parallel with the         conveying direction.

By the preceding collecting and stacking procedures, the invention renders feasible the use of cutting machines or devices comprising rotary knives, which form part of the usual equipment of a printing house. Such cutting machines enable the bilateral trim even of thicker printed products, because it is exactly thicker products which are particularly prone to tearing. Even cutting through in the middle of the products is feasible, if required. The use of rotary knives has become possible, because the products according to the invention are now arranged one precisely above the other in a stack. The hollow position of the lowermost products necessarily resulting from a tiled arrangement is thereby prevented.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that said collecting and organizing into stacks of the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement are effected during the supply movement of the printed products, by conveying the printed products against a stop, thus rendering feasible the reliable and rapid stacking or collection and stack-wise arrangement of the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement.

Simple stacking will be assisted in that the stop is moved over a partial region of the conveying path of the supplied printed products at a speed reduced relative to the supply speed of the printed products, as in correspondence with a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. By providing a different supply speed in respect to the movements of the stop and of the supplied printed products, a stack can be rapidly and reliably formed of the respectively desired number of printed products when using the stop and moving the printed products against the stop.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that said collecting and organizing into stacks of the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement are effected along a conveying path extending in a downwardly inclined manner relative to a horizontal plane such that, in addition to the supply movement of the printed products arranged in a tiled manner, the stacking procedure is effected by the gravity acting on the printed products in the region of the conveying path extending in a downwardly inclined manner relative to a horizontal plane.

As pointed out above, the collection and stack-wise arrangement of the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement enables the cutting or trimming of at least one edge, and favorably both edges, along an edge extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction immediately after the formation of a stack. In many cases, printed products are, however, subjected to an altogether trilateral or quadrilateral trim, which will require a rotation or reorientation of the printed products upon trimming of the edges extending parallel with the conveying direction in order to carry out such additional cutting procedures. In this context, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment that after having trimmed at least one edge of the stack, the stack is rotated relative to the conveying direction, in particular by an angle of 90°.

In order to ensure particularly simple and reliable rotating and precise positioning of the stacks during or after the rotation procedure, it is proposed according to another preferred embodiment that, for rotating the stack, the stack is substantially punctually provided with pressure eccentrically from an upper side and a lower side, and that the stack is guided against a stop and rotated into abutment on the stop about the pressure points during a conveying movement.

To carry out a precise and selective rotating or turning procedure, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment that the substantially punctual pressure action is provided by, particularly spring-loaded, compression means acting on the upper and lower sides in a substantially opposed manner, such as, for instance, rotary discs.

After turning or rotating, as already indicated above, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment that, after having rotated the stack, trimming on at least one further edge of the stack of printed products is effected along an edge extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction.

Due to the above process control proposed by the invention in terms of rotation or reorientation, the hitherto applied reorientation of printed products by the aid of stops on conveyor belts running transversely to the original conveying direction can be obviated. Production failures resulting from the static charging of products are avoided too. The invention excels, in particular, in that the products are held during the entire rotating procedure, thus allowing for higher speeds, yet also the rotation of products loosely resting one above the other.

As a further consequence, the invention, moreover, facilitates the stacking of products, which is usually carried out by stacking apparatus that have to interrupt a product tile in order to enable the individual partial stacks of an overall stack to be rotated by 180° each. Such an interruption is no longer necessary since, according to the invention, partial stacks do already reach the stacking apparatus. Higher stacks, moreover, reduce the product speed at an equal flow rate of the plant. As a result, simpler stacking apparatus can be employed.

To solve the above-mentioned objects, a device of the initially defined kind is essentially characterized in that it comprises at least one stop which is movable in the conveying direction of the printed products for collecting and organizing into one stack each the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement, during the conveying movement of the printed products, and that the consecutively arranged cutting device is provided for cutting or trimming at least one edge of the stack of printed products along an edge extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction, thus, in the main, providing a device that is simple in terms of manufacture and use and enables the simple formation of stacks which can be supplied to a consecutively arranged cutting device comprised, for instance, of rotary knives.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is proposed that a plurality of movable stops are provided about the periphery of a conveying device, in particular chain, which at least partially extends substantially parallel with the conveyor belt for feeding the printed products, said stops being moved at a speed reduced relative to the conveying speed of the conveyor belt for feeding the printed products.

By the appropriate selection of the number of stops and the length of the conveying device, it is feasible to obtain the respectively desired stack height in a manner matched with the stacks to be formed as well as the number of printed products to be stacked or arranged in stacks, and matched with the conveying speed of the printed products as well as the moving speed of the stops, which stack height is readily processable in the consecutively arranged cutting device.

According to another preferred embodiment, it is provided that both the conveyor belt for feeding the printed products and the conveying device carrying a plurality of stops are guided at least partially along a direction deviating downwardly from a horizontal line such that gravity can be used in addition to the conveying movement of the printed products to assist the collecting and stacking procedure.

In order to enable the printed products supplied in a tiled, partially overlapping manner to be reliably pushed together, in particular, during the collecting and stacking procedure, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment that a conveyor belt section is provided in the area where one stop each meets with printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement, which conveyor belt section is driven at a speed elevated relative to the supply speed of the tiled printed products.

In order to facilitate the formation of stacks, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment that nozzles for acting on the tiled printed products are additionally provided in the region of the formation of stacks.

To guide the printed products in the conveying direction, it is moreover proposed that guides, in particular vibrating guides, extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction are provided at least in the region of the formation of stacks.

While, due to the provision of the appropriate matching between the conveying speed of the printed products and, in particular, the moving speed of the stops during the stacking procedure, stacks each having a predetermined or predeterminable height and number of printed products can be formed, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment that a recognition or counting device is provided in the region of the formation of stacks for the acquisition and counting of the printed products to be each combined in stacks.

In accordance with the invention, partly overlapping printed products which are located on a conveyor belt in a tiled arrangement are horizontally seized by a conveying device arranged therebehind and guided obliquely downwards over an arc. In doing so, the products are held by a roller in the region of the arc. Special product guides following the roller allow for the active displacement of the products while hindering the same from sliding down on their own.

Following the arc, a short, second conveyor belt is arranged in the extension of the former. This, too, is oriented obliquely downwards. However, this conveyor belt runs at a higher belt speed. A second arc, which is formed by casters loosely rotating without being driven, brings the products back into the horizontal position.

A blade or stop mounted on a chain or conveyor belt reaches into the tile flow from top precisely above the rapidly running conveyor belt for the printed products and accompanies the tile flow along the caster arc. Since the speed of the stop is lower than that of the tiles, the products start running onto one another. A stack, thus, forms on the edge of the stop or blade, which, however, is still connected with the remaining tile. While the products are decelerated from top, an acceleration caused by the faster-running conveyor belt is imparted to the lower region of the tile. Since the two relative movements take place in an inclined position relative to the horizontal line, the products additionally start slipping down under the action of gravity. This procedure is facilitated by nozzles generating an air cushion between the products. Guides provided on the two product edges, in addition, prevent slipping aside. Thus, all products will reach the stop or blade edge as another stop is being introduced or inserted into the tile flow.

The stops divide the tile or tile flow again and again. The relative distance of the stops can be adapted to the size of the products. Chains or conveying means comprising more or fewer stops can be employed without anything changing in the overall length of the conveying means. In a preferred manner, an arcuately shaped caster path prevents the products from falling out of the, particularly blade-shaped, stops. In this case, the stacks will roll down the arc, driven only by gravity and kept back by the stops, exactly taking on the speed of the same.

Finally, one stop after the other is again pivoted out of the product flow. The stacks can, thus, roll on each another. A flow of stacks is formed, which is characterized in that the products are no longer arranged one behind the other in a tiled relationship, but exactly one above the other, forming stacks one closely behind the other. The stacks can also be cut with a mutual distance, yet at a reduced output of the cutting device. The number of products contained in a single stack is a function of the ratio of the speeds of the conveyor belt and conveyor chain. An electronic product edge recognition means enables precisely counted stacks. Conveying elements other than chains, such as, for instance, toothed belts or conveyor belts may be used to guide the stops.

As already indicated above, an additional rotation or turning or reorientation of the printed products or stacks may be provided for further trimming on three or four sides. In this context, it is proposed according to a preferred embodiment that a device for rotating the stacks of printed products after having trimmed at least one edge of the stack is additionally provided.

A particularly simple means for turning or rotating the stacks during the conveying procedure is essentially characterized in that the device for rotating a stack is comprised of compression means eccentrically engaging at the upper and lower sides of one stack each in opposed relationship, and a stop against which the stacks are conveyed, as in correspondence with a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In order to obtain a defined rotational movement, it is proposed according to a further preferred embodiment that the compression means are comprised of, particularly spring-loaded, rotary discs and that the stop is comprised of stop rollers arranged in an arcuate or funnel-shaped manner and whose axes extend substantially normal to the conveying direction of a stack to be turned, wherein, according to another preferred embodiment, it is proposed in this respect that conveyor belts or chains driven, in particular, at a speed elevated relative to that of a feeder belt are provided to move the rotary discs.

In accordance with the invention, products or stacks that are provided for trimming on three or four sides are rotated by 90° by a rotating device prior to further trimming. This is also feasible with products that have to be rotated for production reasons, either because only one trim transverse to the original conveying direction is to be made or because a rotation is demanded by the stacking device. Angles other than 90° may be realized too.

Preferably processed are stacks formed by the above-described device. Yet, stacks derived from other production processes and single products can also be rotated.

To this end, the products are seized, pulled apart and rotated by rotary discs, which are preferably resiliently mounted on carriages and pulled by a chain. Chains having different rotary disc spacings may be provided. The individual rotary discs are fastened to the chain by their carriages at fixed intervals. Yet, also other conveying means such as, for instance, toothed belts may be employed. The chains are synchronously operated in pairs such that two rotary discs each together form a pivot joint. The products are pinched therebetween and, hence, are no longer able to slip. Configurations having but one rotary disc on one side and a conveyor belt on the other side are conceivable. The products preferably slide on a roller way during rotation, wherein air tables or fixed tables may be used as well. In a preferred manner, the products are clamped and accelerated outside of the product center. The first rotation is effected in that the acceleration force generates a torque due to the central offset. In this inclined position, the product runs against a stop and is rotated further. This stop is preferably designed in a rolling fashion and funnel-shaped to prevent the rotation from occurring too quickly. An additional electronic product edge recognition means enables the precise placement of the rotary discs on the products. In one configuration, the stop is able to yield laterally in order to compensate for inaccuracies which may arise, nevertheless.

In the main, a simple method and a simple device are, thus, provided, whereby, in particular, cost-effective and rapidly operating cutting devices, particularly rotary knives, will do. The simple retrofitting of existing plants supplying partly overlapping printed products in a tiled arrangement is feasible too, so that it is not necessary to completely newly design whole plants.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail by way of exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Therein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational illustration of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for forming product stacks used to carry out the method according to the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a schematic elevational illustration and ground plan, respectively, of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for rotating product stacks in conveying plants;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a schematic elevational illustration and ground plan, respectively, of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for holding the product stacks during rotation.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

From FIG. 1, an embodiment of a device for processing printed products and, in particular, forming product stacks is apparent. Printed products 11 can be conveyed on an initially horizontally extending conveyor belt 1 in a manner disposed one above the other in tiled form or partly overlapping each other. After this, the conveyor belt 1 is obliquely guided downwards over an arc. During this downward movement, the products are supported by a roller 2 and guides 3, the roller 2 securing, and the guides 3 allowing for the active displacement of, the products. The roller 2 can be pushed back and forth as a function of the product dimensions.

Following the arc of the conveyor belt 1, a further conveyor belt 4 is arranged to extend obliquely downwards. The belt speed of the section 4 is higher than that of the conveyor belt 1. A non-driven caster arc 5 brings the products back into the horizontal position.

A plurality of blades or stops 6 is moved from top into the product flow by the aid of a conveying means 7 formed by a chain. The blade-shaped stop 6 accompanies the tile flow along the caster arc 5. The speed of the penetrating stop 6 is slightly lower than the speed of the tiles. The products will, thus, run onto each other, starting to form a stack 12 which, however, is still linked together with the tile.

The conveyor belt 4 accelerates the tile from below and divides the same while another stop 6 penetrates into the tile flow. Due to the action of gravity, the products 11 are precisely oriented according to the edges of the stops. This procedure is facilitated by, optionally vibrating, lateral guides.

The stacks 12 reassume their horizontal position via the roller arc 5. Thus, stacks of precisely superimposed products are formed by the products arriving in tiled form. At the end of the roller arc 5, the stop 6 is again withdrawn from the product flow by the chain 7. The stacks 12 are able to roll at each other on the conveyor belt 8. The speed of the conveyor belt 8 is controlled in a manner that the distance between the products is as small as possible. The products are cut by the aid of rotary knives 9 and 10.

FIG. 2A depicts an embodiment of the device for rotating product stacks. Printed products 11 arranged one above the other in stacks 12 can be transported on a horizontally extending conveyor belt 21. In the extension of the conveyor belt 21, a chain conveyor comprised of chains 22 and 23 is arranged on the end of the former in a manner that the stacks 12 are seized from the same by rotary discs 24 resiliently fastened to the chains. Since the speed of the chains 22 and 23 is higher than that of the supplying conveyor belt 21, the distance between the products increases. Moreover, they are imparted a rotation, since the rotary discs 24, which are applied outside of the product center, generate a torque on account of the change in speed. By the rotary discs 24 squeezing the stacks between them, the latter are unable to slip even within themselves during said rotation.

FIG. 2B illustrates said rotation on a roller table 25. Approximately in the center of the table the stacks 12, still held by the rotary discs 24, run against a stop 26, which is guided by rollers arranged in a funnel-shaped fashion. Guided by the stop rollers 26, the stacks are then further rotated until oriented in parallel. A conveyor belt 27, which is illustrated in FIG. 2A, takes over the then rotated stacks 12. The relative distances between the stacks 12 can be adjusted via the belt speed.

FIGS. 3A and 3B depict an embodiment of the device for holding the product stacks during rotation. The product stacks are clamped between the rotary discs 31 by being held by springs 32. Two rotary discs 31 each form a pivot joint that allows for the free rotation of the product stacks without allowing them to slip within themselves. Guide carriages which carry rollers 33 running on a guiding path 35 take up the thus formed holding forces. They are pulled by chains 34 in a manner that the axes of the rotary discs will come to lie precisely one above the other. 

1. A method for processing printed products which are supplied on a conveyor belt in a tiled, partly overlapping arrangement, wherein at least one edge of the printed products is trimmed or cut along an edge being essentially parallel to the conveying direction, which method is characterized by the steps of: collecting and organizing into stacks the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement, during the conveying movement of the printed products; and trimming or cutting at least one edge of the stack of printed products along an edge extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said collecting and organizing into stacks of the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement are effected during the supply movement of the printed products, by conveying the printed products against a stop.
 3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the stop is moved over a partial region of the conveying path of the supplied printed products at a speed reduced relative to the supply speed of the printed products.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said collecting and organizing into stacks of the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement are effected along a conveying path extending in a downwardly inclined manner relative to a horizontal plane.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein after having trimmed at least one edge of the stack, the stack is rotated relative to the conveying direction, in particular by an angle of 90°.
 6. A method according to claim 5, wherein, for rotating the stack, the stack is substantially punctually provided with pressure eccentrically from an upper side and a lower side, and that the stack is guided against a stop and rotated into abutment on the stop about the pressure points during a conveying movement.
 7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the substantially punctual pressure action is provided by, particularly spring-loaded, compression means acting on the upper and lower sides in a substantially opposed manner, such as, for instance, rotary discs.
 8. A method according to claim 6, wherein, after having rotated the stack, trimming on at least one further edge of the stack of printed products is effected along an edge extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction.
 9. A device for processing printed products, wherein a conveying device and, in particular, at least one conveyor belt to supply printed products in a tiled, partly overlapping arrangement and at least a consecutively arranged cutting device for cutting at lest one edge of printed products along an edge being parallel to the conveying direction are provided, wherein it further comprises at least one stop which is movable in the conveying direction of the printed products for collecting and organizing into one stack each the printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement, during the conveying movement of the printed products, and that the consecutively arranged cutting device (9, 10) is provided for cutting or trimming at least one edge of the stack of printed products along an edge extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction.
 10. A device according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of movable stops are provided about the periphery of a conveying means, in particular chain, which at least partially extends substantially parallel with the conveyor belt for feeding the printed products, said stops being moved at a speed reduced relative to the conveying speed of the conveyor belt for feeding the printed products.
 11. A device according to claim 9, wherein both the conveyor belt for feeding the printed products and the conveying device carrying a plurality of stops are guided at least partially along a direction deviating downwardly from a horizontal line.
 12. A device according to claim 9, wherein a conveyor belt section is provided in the area where one stop each meets with printed products supplied in a tiled arrangement, said conveyor belt section being driven at a speed elevated relative to the supply speed of the tiled printed products.
 13. A device according to claim 9, wherein nozzles for acting on the tiled printed products are additionally provided in the region of the formation of stacks.
 14. A device according to claim 9, wherein guides, in particular vibrating guides, extending substantially parallel with the conveying direction are provided at least in the region of the formation of stacks.
 15. A device according to claim 9, wherein a recognition or counting device is provided in the region of the formation of stacks.
 16. A device according to claim 9, wherein a device for rotating the stacks of printed products after having trimmed at least one edge of the stack is additionally provided.
 17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the device for rotating a stack is comprised of compression means engaging at the upper and lower sides of one stack each eccentrically and in opposed relationship, and a stop against which the stacks are conveyed.
 18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the compression means are comprised of, particularly spring-loaded, rotary discs and that the stop is comprised of stop rollers arranged in an arcuate or funnel-shaped manner and whose axes extend substantially normal to the conveying direction of a stack to be turned.
 19. A device according to claim 17, wherein conveyor belts or chains driven, in particular, at a speed elevated relative to that of a feeder belt, are provided to move the rotary discs. 